"We're finally out of there. One more minute underground and I'd have started growing mole whiskers."
After navigating a route that had its share of obstacles—but nothing Karl and Lied couldn't handle—they finally saw light ahead. Karl couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
The smuggling route they'd taken had clearly been reinforced in places—patched up with metal plates here and there—but it still took them ages to follow the smugglers' markers. Smuggling between Night City and Dogtown, in both directions… definitely not a job for amateurs.
"In a way, this gig's rough as hell. Sure, the money's great—but the risks? Even worse. Sometimes I think… people working in the city are dancing on the edge of a knife. If you'd asked me to do this before, no way I'd have taken the job."
Lied glanced at him, almost wanting to say: You're a merc, and you think smuggling's dangerous? But in the end, he held his tongue.
Karl's performance along the way had been outstanding—enough to make Lied seriously consider recruiting him to New America, if not for Karl's current status and affiliations.
He could fight, plan, negotiate. A top-tier operative in every way. The only flaw? His personality.
You could call it flippant, or say he just liked to lighten the mood—but either way, Karl drew too much attention when he wasn't trying to stay low. For an intelligence operative, that made him... imperfect.
He was like the sun. Always shining, always noticeable. Even in darkness, his glow bounced off the moon for all to see. Anyone who looked his way couldn't help but be drawn to him.
That kind of charisma? It wasn't something an undercover agent should have.
But emotionally? Working with Karl felt good.
There was a kind of ease, an unspoken trust. For Lied—whose career had been shaped by cold calculations, betrayal, and constant vigilance—it was a kind of freedom he'd never experienced before.
Even someone like Lied, hardened by shadows and solitude, felt a rare warmth working alongside Karl.
It was trust.
Like sunlight breaking through heavy storm clouds, piercing into a desolate part of his soul long since abandoned. It wasn't fiery or blinding—but warm enough to make his frozen world feel just a little less empty. As if whispering: Even in the abyss, you're not alone.
Trust, huh?
The thought flickered in Lied's mind—only to be immediately crushed.
He couldn't afford this.
He'd started to trust Karl—this man who wasn't a colleague, not even a proper ally. Just a merc. One-time hire. Nothing more.
As a professional agent, Lied knew: personal feelings were deadly. Unacceptable.
His loyalty belonged only to New America—to the dream of rebuilding a nation, of making it whole and powerful again. Nothing else should cloud his focus.
He should've been thinking about the mole in the intelligence agency. The traitor near the President.
Not... whatever this was.
And yet, as they emerged from the tunnel into the morning light, Karl's cheerful voice made him turn his head instinctively.
"We're finally back in the city! Even the outskirts of Pacifica feel like home compared to Dogtown. After walking all night... Good morning, Night City!"
Lied looked at him.
Sunlight bathed Karl's shoulders, outlining his sharp frame. His smile was unfiltered—genuine and radiant. A kind of happiness that wasn't forced or faked. Just… real.
Too bright, Lied thought.
So bright it felt foreign.
So bright… he couldn't look away.
There was no mask, no defense—just pure joy. And it was blinding.
Good morning, Night City...
Lied turned his eyes to the city skyline, bathed in morning gold. He'd seen countless sunrises over this place—but never once like this.
In his heart, he echoed it silently.
Good morning, Night City.
And with that thought, Lied shoved his emotions back into the cold, quiet recesses of his mind.
He stepped forward, standing beside Karl. Though he too was bathed in sunlight, his stance was slightly hunched, as if trying to hide from the warmth.
"We should keep moving, Karl," Lied said quietly.
He gestured to a nearby structure. "There's a Barghest checkpoint up ahead. They might've figured out we're escaping through this route. If they send someone out, we're at risk of being tracked."
"I know, Mr. Lied."
Karl nodded and held up his phone. "That's why I already made arrangements."
"Arrangements?"
Lied looked at the phone screen. A string of messages was displayed.
"This place, Dogtown? Sure, it's Mr. Hansen's turf—I've got no issue with that. Not looking to challenge his rule or anything. In fact, I kinda like how he runs the place. Security's solid, weapons are cheap. I respect the guy.
But—and it's a big but—only in Dogtown."
Karl grinned. "Once you step outside? That's not his territory anymore."
Woop-woop.
A siren pierced the early-morning calm of Pacifica.
Lied looked out and saw a fleet of NCPD vehicles heading their way.
"I've got some friends in this part of the state," Karl said casually. "Didn't feel like hiking all the way back to the city center, so I called for a ride."
Lied watched as the NCPD quickly secured the area, locking down the Barghest checkpoint and preventing any of their troops from crossing into city territory.
The police—once seen as little more than thugs in blue, barely capable of handling small-time gangers—looked nothing like that now. Their gear, presence, and discipline had evolved far beyond expectations.
Karl tucked away his phone.
"This is NCPD turf now. Biggest gang in the city, right?
So, Mr. Lied—mission's done. Wanna catch a lift back?
That bar you were using in Dogtown's probably gonna get shut down. Guess it's time to live on that city cop salary, huh? You've still got time to clock in, maybe avoid a tardy slip."
Lied instinctively pulled out his phone to check the time.
And saw the screen.
"…Looks like my job's not over yet."
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🔥🦾 CYBERPUNK: THE RELENTLESS 🦾🔥
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🤖 My Girlfriend's a Cyberpsycho—Who Knew?
🛡️ Star Wars: The Rise of Mandalore
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⚡ The Rebirth of Harry Potter
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